Korg Polysix vs Roland JUNO-60
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2025
- Comparison and review of of the Korg Polysix and Roland JUNO-60.
Both synths are form 1982 and had been as low priced polysynths very popular (cheap Prophet 5 vs Jupiter-8). Both synths have a very similar structure and that is why a comparision is interesting.
Anyway, both synths sound very different because of its unique sound components (oscillators and filters). I would describe the Polysix as american sounding with a strong dark tone. The JUNO-60 sounds a bit more modern and feels always well in the mix. It is not so fat as the Polysix but very smooth sounding, especially with its great stereo chorus.
I recorded both synths without mastering or effects directly into my audio interface, the JUNO with a pair of stereo jacks, the Polysix with its mono jack.
I hope the video helps you to decide which synth is better for you if you can't or won't afford both. Cheers and please stay well.
@23:25 😍😍😍 (nice arpeggiator sequence!)...and @6:50 nice filter sweep comparison (the Juno is magical like a waterfall)
Have both. Love both. P6 with KiwiSix mod which is great! Two legends of a great era. ❤❤
I am privileged to own both (a Polysix and a Juno-6) and the Polysix always wins for me. It's that unmatched BBD Ensemble Effect. Beautiful analog 70s strings. Instant Dawn Of The Dead soundtrack or early 80s Italian zombie film. I love it.
Legend says Romero used the Polysix for Night Of The Living Dead soundtrack, 13 years before the Polysix was released 🧟🧟♂🧟♀
@Wise & Radical Well I'm sure it would've been the keyboard of choice for all of Romero's scores!
@@pfmdude probably yes
probably a p 5 @@wiseradical3386
The Polysix ensemble effect is designed like the Solina/ARP Omni one, with three delay lines in parallel and modulated via independent LFOs; definitely a plus for such as a fairly simple synth.
A more plus is the dedicated LFO for PWM, thal gives to the sound a more "live" presence, being independent from the main LFO (VCO, VCF, VCA).
Hey yes. I have both and I wouldn't sell either. They're both beautiful in their own ways. I have the Jupiter X which in so many ways sounds just so wonderful. I'd like two Jupiter X's but, they don't have analogue trigger input which is not good for jamming old school Electro style with an analogue drum machine :)
Nobody noticed that the Polysix, although uses VCOs, doesn't has a TUNE routine and button, like all other analogs. That is because the standard way to tune them is to build an expo converter to each VCO, and tune the converters to match the total tuning. The Polysix has just one expo converter, that is switched between all 6 VCOs, therefore no discrepancies are noticed between them. The VCOs are very linear, therefore is a quite clever way to overcome to a common issue.
I can't understand why that technique hasn't been replicated on other synths.
I am currently rebuilding a Polysix. Thanks for this great demo!
Your welcome. Have much success with the rebuilding.
@@vintagesynths thanks!
@2:12 talking about oscillator warmth the Juno has a digitally controlled analog oscillator so i'm not sure how it would be not be considered warm...the Polysix sounds much brighter to me...
They really are similar sounding if no FX applied although P6 is brighter. There is no clear winner because some people will prefer one over the other just like choosing Pepsi vs Coke dilemma to be the clear winner.
Polysix is always more raw, organic and full. Filter is fantastic, Oscillators are VCOs, plus very useful ensemble fx. I sold juno, but will never sell polysix.
Love the intro.
I have owned a Roland Juno 106 and have borrowed a Juno 60 and I just never really got along with them. I'd of course love to have a Juno 60. It's a beautiful synth. I've found myself writing more interesting things with the Polysix, and feeling inspired by it's overall design. Maybe I just prefer knobs over sliders, but since I like the Polaris, I don't think it's that. I think the Polysix can just sound so somber - I really like that. The Juno's always seemed very clean and just not my style.
Yet, I have a JX3P and really enjoy that one. Go figure.
Thanks for the video demo - nice work :)
The Juno Chorus is for sure better than the Polysix chorus (or any other effect on there).
Thank you very much. You summarized it perfectly. The Juno chorus helps to improve lack of poor and lifeless DCO. The SSM filter is lovely.
JX3P is dark and gritty. Even Judas Priest used it... the guitar synth version, in Turbo Lover. It is one of the few synths I'll keep.
@@vintagesynths I definitely agree about the chorus. When I had the Juno 106, I had a Matrix 1000 (well, still do), and there just was no comparison, the Matrix sounded so much nicer to me (yes, personal preference). I went for sound over appearances (or ease of use - which was a mistake) and quickly sold the Juno 106.
To be fair - more went into that decision - back in 2011, there was only the acetone solution for the voice chips and there was reason to believe that the fix wouldn't last forever. I didn't want a dead synth in a few years - so that was the bigger reason I sold it, but still - this video confirms that I just don't dig the overall sound of the Junos. I must be weird.
There were many instances where I wasn't watching, just listening, and I kept getting confused as to which was which!
I think a lot of vintage Rolands ride on the chorus effect. (Juno, JX8P) The Polysix just sounds better when the chorus is not being used. It also is more transparent. You can tell a Juno a mile off.
i like using my juno a lot of times without the chorus since it has such a high noise floor when on and then just use sound toys effects rack for some fx in the box or pedals. The dco's sound amazing and warmer to my ears then some of my vco synths. Also sounds brighter than his when playing along not sure why
then why in all of these comparisons of other vintage synths with Juno 6/60 do you see the reviewer trying to emulate the chorus effect (ie: the Jupiter 8 and Prophet 6 youtube comparisons) 😇
A wonderful patch, the fist Polysix arpeggio!
On Sony MDR-1000X blutooth headphones both synths sound almost identical, apart from envelopes. Both are lovely instruments, though I've decided on a new "replica" Juno: an UDO Super Six, which is also lovely.
Super 6 indeed is very lovely and sounds fantastic
Great video Ruediger. I told you... Polysix is an awesome synth... which one do you prefer?
I am now comparing my Peak to these vintage synths to decide whether I should keep it or not. They say it has the same oscs as the OSCar but it really doesn't compare. I think nothing can beat the vintage gear.
Regards from Burgundy
Thanks, Rene. I prefer the Juno for its overall sound.
@@vintagesynths yes, I watched again and you said it at the end. I agree, the Polysix sounds a bit darker.
I like both and will always keep both.
@@reneotten7376 You can actually increase the brightness with a super simple mod, bypassing the FX section VCF, which filtered out noise. This also has a side effect of making the envelope a lot snappier.
See here: synthhacker.blogspot.com/2013/07/polysix-bypassing-post-effects-vcf.html
@@MIDERA Is this mod present in your uploads?
@@devongestrin7512 I did do the mod - but I don't think it really helped that much to be honest.
The 6/60 win by a landslide for me. Nothing beats the ir3109 Roland synths. Also the envelopes are waaay snappier and the dcos are super sturdy and harmonically rich. It’s not the most thick and massive synths but it fits in a mix perfectly and the squares are unmatched. The polysix is far from a bad instrument but to me if you own a rev 4 prophet 5 you have the best representation of a ssm based synth. Also the monopoly is the sibling that interest me more than the polysix.
When i was a lad you could buy a Polysix for 1/6 shilling and a farthing. The summers used to go on forever back then too and the kids used to doff their caps before stabbing you. Such nicer more polite times.
Juno is the superior synth but still Polysix has a lot of possibilities soundwise
Polysix aliveness with Juno amazing chorus for me ;)
Bought authentic juno 60 chorus by alpes machines and got almost both when applied to polysix
I thought about doing this too...how are you happy with the alpes machines pedal?
Takeaway, Happiness , is having a juno and poly 6
Nah. Real happiness is having a Korg Trident and Roland Jupiter 8
The poly feels cheap compared to the Juno.
日本では当時の２倍の値段で流通してるで😁
特にjuno
the polysix has the better oscillators but the Juno has better filters
The filter is pretty amazing on the polysix. I think its the same as prophet 5
@@uv77mc85Yep, SSM 2044 filter like in the P5 Rev 1 & 2.
@@uv77mc85no the prophet 5 rev 1/2 use the ssm 2040 while the polysix/monopoly use the 2044 also found on the ppg wave.
Filter on the Polysix sounds amazing to my ears. 🤷